Aftershock (33 page)

“Whew!” Rick looked down at Sydney. “What a barracuda. How does she get away with it?”

“The most common answer is she slept her way into prominence with high-profile placements for her blog, used that to get her syndicated column, and then took raw young bands and worked them the same way.” She snorted. “I guess she must be damn good in bed.”

“Well, that’s for others to find out. Not for me or any of Butch’s bands.” He lowered his voice even more. “Butch wants a few minutes with both bands in his suite after this, but then I’m all yours for the rest of the night.”

Her body went liquid at his words, heat pouring through her. “Then I’d better make sure we wind things up here and get you up to the suite.”

She turned away from him to give Butch a hand and stopped dead in her tracks. Macey Shreiner stood partway to the stage exit, staring at both her and Rick with pure hatred on her face.

Crap.
She didn’t need a sign to tell her trouble lurked on the horizon and she’d better be prepared for it.

Sydney was still zonked out when the shit hit the fan. Rick managed a couple of hours in her room after the meeting with Butch, and they’d made the best use of it. Afterward she’d been too excited to sleep. The tour had changed so much of life for her, including the details of The Plan. She’d discovered her niche in the publicity world was guiding a band that exploded on the scene. And that it was okay to fall in love with a man who returned her feelings. She wasn’t in any mood to face the world so early.

The alarm on her phone was set for seven a.m. so she’d have time to dress, order coffee, and check the overnights before the trip to the airport. But it wasn’t her alarm that woke her up so rudely. It was the ringtone she’d assigned to Butch. Struggling to sit up and gather her scattered wits she pressed Answer.

“Morning, Butch.”

“Fifteen minutes,” he told her. “In my suite.”

Oh, hell. What had happened?

She was headed toward the bathroom when her phone sounded with Rick’s special tone.

“Did you get a call from Butch?” he asked without even a hello or good morning.

“I did.” Her nerves were doing a sudden tap dance. “What’s it about, did he say?”

“Nope, but I can promise you it isn’t good. Meet you there.”

Sydney looked at the cell phone in her hand. Whatever residual excitement she might have retained after the great concert and even great night with Rick disappeared like smoke.

Macey Shreiner. That bitch has done something. I just know it. I never should have allowed myself to get involved with Rick.

Oh, yeah? Like you could really stop what you feel? Or what he feels?

She threw on a pair of jeans and a Lightnin’ T-shirt, opened her door, and found Rick outside the door to his room. He looked more somber than she’d ever seen him.

“You should have just gone on ahead,” she told him.

“Uh uh.” He took her hand. “Whatever this is we’re in it together.”

Neither of them spoke as they rode the elevator to the next floor. Butch opened the door to his suite at their first knock.

“Come on in.” He, too, was dressed down and along with his jeans and shirt he wore a grim expression on his face. He waved at the room service cart by the window table. “I ordered coffee. Help yourselves.”

“I’m good,” Sydney said. She didn’t think she could swallow anything at the moment.

“None for me, either,” Rick added.

“Sit. Sit.” The smile Butch gave them was tired but not angry. “We have some strategizing to do.”

They took seats across from him. Beneath the table Rick reached for Sydney’s hand again.

“Okay, kids. We have a problem.” He looked at Sydney. “Before I say anything else, I want you to know that you both have behaved as you should on this tour. The situation between you has not affected your work, Sydney, or yours with the band, Rick. Like the saying goes, shit happens.”

“I just want to say—” Sydney began.

Butch held up a hand. “Not yet. Our friend Macey Schreiner actually called me this morning to tell me to check her column and her blog.” He turned his iPad so they could both see it. “She’s really gone over the top this time.”

Sydney took a look at the screen and nearly passed out.

Tidbit from
On the Scene

Who is the latest toy in Rick Trajean’s toy box?

Could it be neophyte publicity agent Sydney Alexander?

How lucky can a newbie get to ride the tour with Butch Meredith’s new breakout band, the one everyone’s talking about? Just ask Sydney. She’s been glued to Trajean’s side since before the tour kicked off
. On the Scene
hinted at this right after opening night. One wonders exactly what made her the agent of choice since she’s never soloed before. Oh. Could it be the
extra service
she provides for Trajean? And what about the rest of the band? Do they get to sample her talents, too?

Maybe Butch needs to take a closer look at why this newbie works so hard to keep the media away from her precious boy toy. After all, the man has a reputation for keeping everything about his bands squeaky clean.

Hint to Sydney: Not the best way to make friends in this industry.

Will Full Moon have the guts to admit what’s really going on and yank her home before she does real damage to the band?

Stay tuned.

Included in the body of the item were two photos, one of the two of them on her balcony and one of Rick leaving her room in just his jeans. Although the balcony shot was blurry because of the darkness, the suggestion of two naked bodies was evident.

“Some asshole had to help her,” Rick spat out. “One of them outside watching Syd’s room and the other hiding in a room across from us.”

For a moment Sydney was sure she was going to pass out. Or throw up. Or both.

“You can always find some sleazebag who will do anything for a buck,” Butch said. “At least I wasn’t blindsided. Thank you for cluing me in yesterday. I appreciate it. Too bad we didn’t have time to deal with this ourselves.”

“She was really ticked off when I hauled Rick away from her last night,” Sydney told him. She glanced at Rick.

“Can she do this?” he demanded. Anger vibrated from his body in waves. “Just print crap like this?”

“Unfortunately, the industry has allowed Macey to build her power base, even knowing how she did it. People kiss her ass because she wields the kind of influence she does. And she loves to brag that when a new band hits the scene, she bags the hottest guy for herself. At least until the next one comes along.” Butch took a swallow of his coffee. “Usually her hints are pretty harmless and we’ve all gotten used to them. But apparently, Rick, she’s well and truly pissed off she couldn’t make you her newest conquest. And she’s got a hard-on for Sydney, who she sees as the stumbling block.”

“But—”

Butch shook his head. “Whatever you’re going to say, I agree with. The woman’s a venomous bitch drunk on power, and the rest of us can take the blame for letting it happen. But it does present a problem.”

“I can take whatever she dishes out,” Rick said. “But it’s just wrong that she slams Sydney like this.” He shook his head. “What a bitch.”

“I agree.” Butch refilled his coffee cup, took another swallow. “But she’s created a situation we need to deal with. Rick, the band is hot out of the gate. Far greater response than any of us even hoped for. We can’t let something derail that.”

“All this because I wouldn’t let her haul me off alone to some dark corner?”

“Yeah,” he agreed. “And it sucks.”

“So what happens now?” Rick wanted to know. “Do we put out a statement of our own? Should Syd and I just go public and tell our side of the story?”

Sydney wanted to say something, but she couldn’t seem to get any words out. She was hot and cold at the same time, and so light-headed she was afraid she’d pass out in the chair. Whatever was coming she was sure it wasn’t good.

“Does Linc know about this?” she finally managed to ask. She saw her career and The Plan shattering into little pieces around her.

This is what you get for falling for a man
.

Janine’s words were so loud in her head, the woman might have been in the same room with them.

I never should have let myself fall in love with him. I should have stuck to The Plan. Now it’s all going to be ruined. Everyone will blame me
.

“He does,” Butch answered. “I rousted him as soon as I saw this.” He leaned forward in his chair. “Sydney, this is nothing against you. I want you to know that. I told Linc that you’ve been doing a damn fine job.”

“I should go home. Right now. If I’m gone, Macey can stop playing her games.” She wet her lips. “None of this should have happened.”

“You’re right,” Butch agreed. “Unfortunately, you’re the victim here, and we both know it. But we think it’s best for the band and the tour if Full Moon sends someone else out for the rest of the dates on this part of the tour. Give you the chance to step back a bit.”

Sydney shook her head. “Going home, yes. But not just for a bit.” She looked at Rick. “I knew this would never work. Now it’s going to hurt you and the band and that can’t happen.”

“No.” Rick nearly shouted the words. “Wait a minute here. Damn it, Butch. That’s not fair. We haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I agree. And Sydney, let’s not go overboard. All we need is a little breathing room to get things back on track. We’ll reevaluate during the three-week break.”

“That just stinks,” Rick argued. “Sydney, you can’t turn your back on us like this. We have something special here.”

She wanted to put her head down and cry. “It’s not special when it hurts so many other people. I know this business. That picture of us will never die. Every time you walk on stage, people will think of it. Every time I talk to a media person, they’ll be picturing me naked with you. That’s just the truth.” She looked at Butch. “I want to get out of here. Now. Can you get me a flight home? And tell Linc he’ll have my resignation first thing in the morning.”

Butch frowned. “Slow down, here, Sydney. We need to take a step back, but please don’t do anything drastic. Give Linc and me a chance to handle this.”

“And what about me?” Rick asked. “About us? Are you just going to toss it away so easily? Or doesn’t it mean anything to you?”

“Of course it does.” She twisted her hands together. “But I’ll just be an albatross around your neck. And Butch’s. And Full Moon’s. I’ll be the promo slut who got naked with the band leader. You don’t need that spilling over onto you.”

“Don’t do this.” His voice was low and rough. “Please.” He looked at Butch. “I don’t think Syd should get all the blame for this,” Rick said. “I would never have given Macey what she wants, no matter what. It’s not me.”

“Nor would I expect you to,” Butch said. “I’ve had problems keeping her away from musicians before, but she’s never gone off the rails like this. I think she focused all her venom on Sydney because she saw her as someone who challenged her authority. The obstacle. It’s all about jealousy.” He pushed away from the table. “Meanwhile, we have a lot of damage control to do, I need to talk to the others and, Syd, we need to get you out of here.”

Yes. Get out of here. Now
.

“How soon can I leave?”

He glanced at his watch. “You take off in two hours. Linc already made a reservation for you. Get your things together. I’ve already got a car coming to pick you up. Someone will meet you on the other end.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I’ll get a cab after I land.” She let out a shuddering breath. “I don’t think I can talk to anyone right now.”

This can’t be happening. My life is turning into a nightmare because I fell in love
.

“Text me as soon as you land,” Rick said.

She turned to walk out of the room but Rick grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him.

“This isn’t over. We’ll fix it and go on from there.”

Then, before she could protest, he wrapped his arms around her and gave her a soul-searing kiss.

“Think about that on the way home.”

She just shook her head and swiped at the tears that suddenly blinded her.

Butch took her down the back way to where the car waited for her, gave her a reassuring squeeze as he handed her over and, less than two hours later, she was on a plane flying home. The thought of never seeing Rick again, never being in his arms, never sharing what they’d found together, made her sick to her soul. A deep-seated pain invaded her bones.

And the gossip. She could just hear it now. Sydney the slut. Sydney who could only get to the top by sleeping with a client.

And what would it do to Full Moon? Surely some of the dirt would spill over onto the agency and Linc.

She exited the plane and made her way to the baggage-claim area like a sleepwalker. She heard someone call her name and was stunned to see Linc himself waiting for her.

“It’s probably not a good thing for you to be seen with me.” She gave him a wobbly smile.

“It takes more than a little dirt to cause me any problems.” He rested his hands on her shoulders. “We’ll talk about this after we get out of the terminal. Come on. Let’s grab your luggage. And, Syd? Falling in love with someone isn’t a crime. From everything Butch tells me, you and Rick behaved in the best manner possible. That bitch just painted a target on your back.”

“You’ll have my resignation in the morning,” she told him as soon as they were in his car.

“What makes you think I even want it? Let’s not go crazy here. Besides, that would give Macey Schreiner more power than she needs.”

She shook her head. “I can’t do this anymore. I’m not even sure I want to.”

All she could think was,
I did this. I put Rick and the agency in a bad situation. It’s my fault
.

Linc spent most of the drive on his cell. Sydney leaned back in the seat, eyes closed, deliberately shutting out the sound of his voice. If it was about Lightnin’, she didn’t want to hear it just yet. If it wasn’t, at the moment, she didn’t care.